Metta Wellness is all about my love of Ayurveda,massage, herbs,meditation and bringing them all to you in a holistic space.Over the years that I have been working, learning and growing, the one that always stands out is the importance of touch.Touch can help heal the body, relax the mind, and balance the body's natural immune response. Adding a few simple things such as herbs, or heat, maybe meditation, then you take your journey for healing to a new space.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Yes, recovering from Thanksgiving! I hope that you all had a wonderful thanksgiving, spent time with family, enjoyed good food, and some great laughter. Now we can start recovering from Thanksgiving.

The holidays are are typically enjoyed by most , some of us enjoy them more then others, and we feel this in the days to come. We over eat, do a larger amount of driving, maybe an extra glass of wine, and yes, family can be stressful. All of this indulgence in a short time, is - well the holidays, but we can do some things along the way to reduce some of the stress, and make for a smoother holiday.

It is expected that we will have some stress over the holidays, so lets finds some ways to move into recovering from Thanksgiving easier, and rest of the year a little more relaxing.

Drinking plenty of water: yes, staying hydrated during the winter months is important, now you add travel, lots of food, family and stress. Water will help decrease headaches, keep the body nourished, hydrate you and in return you will handle the smaller things with ease.

Getting enough Sleep: this one can be a tough one when you are staying at other places, or enjoying the holiday parties, but important. Getting enough sleep will help keep the body in balance,strengthen the immune system, rejuvenate the mind, and yes, help with dealing with stress.

Dry Body Brush: Before showering in the morning, do a dry brush, this will wake up the body, soften the skin, and prepare you for a great day. Or book a dry brush massage( Garashana) followed by an Abhyanga at Metta Wellness.

Moderation: Yes, moderation. Enjoy the holidays, the food, the parties, even the drink, but keep it in moderation.Try to add in some healthier food, or make a simple cleansing tea to have. You will enjoy the holiday so much more if you are feeling balanced during the season.

Movement: Speeding all this time traveling, or entertaining, can be fun, but also exhausting on the body and mind. T take some time in your routine to sneak in a walk, or take a yoga class, find what works for you.

So, enjoy the holiday, and take some time out to take care of you.
HeatherMetta Wellness

Sunday, November 23, 2014

What a perfect way to heat the body and keep colds at bay during the long winter months, we have it right here at Metta Wellness our own Winter Salve.

Wild crafted, small batches of Winter foot salve in 1oz tin or 2oz twist top( for those that like the benefit with out the work).

The blend of garlic and Indian long pepper infused in olive oil with ginger essential oils along with Vit E and castor oil to help heat the body and help clear the system to better handle colds and flues that may come your way over the long winter months. Find the option that works best for you. We have crafted a small 1oz tin , you apply the salve to the bottom of the feet at night before bed, or a 2oz twist top for ease of just rubbing onto the bottom of the feet at night.

Our salves are made in small batches from oils that we have for the majority been wild crafted , when we are unable to harvest our own herb we work with an organic supplier.We create our own oils, and with time and much love we blend our salves, oils and teas. Stop in Metta Wellness, see what we have been up to and grab a few herbal treats for yourself, or to fill the stockings of those you love during this Holiday season.

Metta Wellness will have an online herbal store up and running by the end of Nov, so check in, shop often. Or email Heather to place an order now.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

My work as a massage therapist is so much more then just massaging the body, it's about listening to my clients and encouraging a balanced way of life. I find sometimes the simple things like being positive help me and help working with my clients everyday.

Every day we make a choice, to get up and start our day, and what kind of day we will have.Once we step out into the world we then make a choice of how we are going to effect others around us. It seems so simple, but many of use do not take the time to think about this or even consider this into our daily lives.

Take a step back, when you are on your way to work, or at the store, your interactions with others will effect how you move forward, it's only fair that your reaction would do the same for another. When your with your group of friends and everyone is having a great time, laughing, talking, being kind to each other, you are more apt to be friendly, laughing, enjoying, its kind of contagious.

The same goes with the negative, if you observe and listen, when a friend, co-worker starts to complain many others will join in or add more to the pot. Think about your morning commute when that other driver cut you off, and you became angry, or a co-worker was frustrated and verbalized this towards you, we all have these daily challenges. You carry this frustration or anger with and then it pours over to other around you.

I find this time of the year can be a challenge to many people, finances are tough, family issues come out, people are lonely, family is far away. Take a moment, reflect on how you would like others to view you, and how you would like to effect their day. You make a choice everyday, how do you want to start your day,and how do you want this to pour over to someone else.

I challenge you to share happiness and be positive with those around you, see how this comes back to you, lets take the time to share a positive. Post it, chat with us on facebook, share how you feel when you are happy and if you see how people respond to you.See if you can make Positive become positive!

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Winter is the time of Kapha season in Ayurveda, a time to find the balance between the cold and wet outdoors and the dry and hot indoors.

Kapha is ruled by earth and water, they are slow to move but easy temperament, can be calm lethargic, but when out of balance they are prone to colds, weight gain and depression. The key is creating a routine for your self to bring balance into your space.

Early rising, set the same time to get up every day(it is said before 6am for kapha type is best for setting the day). Up early in the morning will start you off on a good routine.The same is for the end of your day, go to bed around the same time, this again will set that routine and you will find it easier to wake.

Winter is cold and I am prone to eat warm, comforting foods to nourish and maintain the body during the long winter. With a kapha type adding in some ginger, cayenne to stimulate the system will help. Kapha is better with a light and fresh diet, but during the winter most of us are not drawn to this type of eating, so by stimulating the diet this will help.

Movement is good for all body types, a kapha body may need a reminder, or encouragement. Movement weather it be a walk or yoga will help keep the body healthy and help fight the winter cold.

Aromatherapy and massage are good for kaphas with stagnant energy it works beautifully.Try blending energizing scents like frankincense, rose oil, and wild orange. These strong scents tend to grab the attention of a sleepy kapha. Ask your massage therapist to add essential oils in your next massage or you can design your own oils at Metta Wellness.

Breathe work is a powerful tool for energizing and decreasing stress. A powerful breathing exercise is Ujjay breathing. Breath deeply through your nose filling your abdomen, diaphragm and your lungs, constrict the back of your throat and slowly with an open mouth make the “haaa” sound while exhaling.Do this for two full minutes in the morning and before going to bed with a full minute of normal breathing.

Child's breath is another easy and powerful breathing exercise, start by sitting, feet on the floor, back straight, hand on your belly and with a nice inhale allow the belly to fill with the breath, and on the exhale empty the belly, doing this several times. You will notice in a few short days the ease of your breath and the balance.

Everyday is a new day, start slow, taking one step at a time, taking care of your self and bringing balance into your everyday.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

The meaning behind Metta Wellness is a powerful and person connection to myself, my space and my work.

The word "Metta" is simply translated to, "Loving Kindness", for me this is my work. Several years ago, when I was thinking and in-visioning working in a space, my own space. I knew I need to have a name that would say how I felt about my work, my clients, my space. As time goes, and we move forward, we realize that what we are looking for is right here.

Let me share: When I started this path with massage, I had a plan in mind to finish school and just work, simple. As my path unfolded in front of me, I started my first work as a massage and Reiki practitioner at a womens shelter and at a home for cancer patients. Far from what I planned, but yet where I should be. I learned the power of touch and the power of the human spirit. This was the turning point for me, I learned to follow the path that my work was going, not to force myself to be what I thought I had to be, or what the trend in massage was, but where my work took me. Over time as we are touched by events in our lives and in the world around us several things continued to find its way into my life.One being a Mantra, Om Mani Padme hum, with the symbol of the lotus being another. Over time I was given this Mantra by a Monk in Ny after doing volunteer work, again at a Thai Yoga retreat, and then again while traveling to Thailand by another Monk, so as it repeated itself so did the symbol of the lotus. On my last day of travel in Thailand I was walking a path that I had walked everyday for a month, and that day I stopped to look down a path, and at the end of the path was a bridge connecting one Wat to a space where young Monks lived and studied. As I stood on the bridge, all I could see was these incredible lotus flowers blooming across this pond and thinking of the Mantra, and who peaceful and loved I felt standing there, in my own loving kindness.

So yes, years later when I was looking and thinking and writing out names for my space, I knew I wanted my clients to feel the way I did that day, their own loving kindness through touch. We all go through our journey in life, we learn, we grow, and like the lotus we unfold into the beautiful lotus lifting out from the mercy pond. Enjoy your journey, see where it takes you, mine has brought me to Metta Wellness.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Yes, that would be me, and the thought of massage and blogging. I have that look of, "what, blog"and what is massage and blogging and how does that go together..

So here I am, and will be. I have decided to blog twice a week on massage, Ayurveda and wellness. Why, because I want to share with you my love for what I do, and why I do this work. Over the past 9 years of doing this work I've learned a from my clients, reading, observing and doing ;so many ways to help bring balance into lives. One thing we all need is a little reminder from time to time, so I am being reminded to share, learn and yes blog. So hopefully you read, comment or share, as we work to inspire each other through our journeys of massage and blogging.

Who am I: Heather, I work with for and at Metta Wellness, my space to share massage, Ayurveda and bring wellness in a holistic space.

Monday, September 29, 2014

I hear this a lot form my clients. Anyone that has come to Metta Wellness for a massage or an Ayurveda treatment knows that at the end of every type of bodywork I do, I have you rest time at the end.

Our lives are busy, whether its work, home, kids, we are always going, and taking very little time to our selves. I realized the importance of rest when I was doing body work for cancer clients years ago. I learned so much about taking time, it's not till we think our time is limited do we take the time to live it. I was blessed with working with a group of clients that where all part of a study on how the body responds during stress, how much more stress can you have then cancer? With this we worked with the simple touch of massage, reiki, and relaxation techniques such as meditation and resting the mind body. We found that our clients had an easier time with their cancer treatments while they where in this program. From their I worked in an Ayurvedic clinic and again they reinforced the concepts of rest and balance of lifestyle.

So here we are, and I realize our space in life is so very busy,and that part of massage and my focus is to help bring balance and rest into your space. The rest time at the end of every treatment done at Metta Wellness is to encourage the mind body connection, allowing you to rest and take in the work that your body does everyday.Taking the time to rest the body, relax the mind, and honor your spirit is the goal and focus of the work I do at Metta Wellness.

So, why rest, next time you come in for your massage, remember, it is all about bringing you to a balanced space.We all need time to allow ourselves to settle in, and what a better way, you are here, in the space taking time for your self, now enjoy the rest.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

As we have entered into summer people ask me often enough, how do you stay healthy and get everything done with four kids and starting your own business? So now is the time,lets get healthy and balanced with Metta Welness.

Massage is my main focus, my passion at Metta Welness, and to stay healthy I eat healthy, think healthy and try to live healthy. I have a busy, yet simple life, I work, I cook ,do laundry, relax with the family, and enjoy time sneaking away here and their (sometimes with everyone and sometimes on my own).

The key is balance, from my work to my home life they all over lap, we work together to help each other, and to create the space we each need(some days its easy, and others I would like to stay in bed). I eat, create and cook healthy meals( sometimes the kids think I’m a little crazy about eating healthy, but). My work, I do massage therapy with a back ground in Ayurveda, yoga, meditation and herbs. I create my massages, and make my own oils( this allows for each treatment to be personalized). As a family wee work together to make this work, we have built this team, this unit and everyone has something to offer.

We take yoga classes, go for walks, or hiking with the kids and the dog, we try to keep our bodies moving, stay active. Like most people we find it to be a challenge in the winter months (this is the time I try to get in my yoga classes, and the boys play basketball).

Overall our focus is on staying healthy, weather through our diet, regular massages, yoga, meditation, what we find is important to our space at the time. It will change as our lives change, and we will fluctuate between balance and free falling, but this is life, always changing.

So as I post on my blog, about massage, self strength, herbs and on ways to find balance in our ever changing lives. So hope you come back, and hope you are able to find some ways to work in your life to balance.

Place the cucumbers in jar,top with any additional herbs and pour water over and place in frig, sip through out day. I like to make mine the night before and place in the frig, this allows the flavors from the cucumber and herbs to infuse into the water.Try different combinations of cucumber water, see what you come up with, and share with us on facebook.

Benefits of cucumber water:

Good for your muscles and joints, cucumbers contain silica which is known to strengthen the connective tissues.

Cucumber helps with elimination due to the high water content.

Cucumber water helps with keeping the skin clear.

Cucumber water will help keep you hydrated. We forget or get bored with water, so by adding in cucumber or herbs it will change the flavor and encourage you to drink more.

Cucumber ware is easy to make, and looks great in just minutes for when guests stop by on those hot summer days.

And yes, cucumber water is cost effective and low calorie.

So while the warm weather is here, take a few minutes and create your own spa water.Don't forget, when you are in Metta Wellness next time try out our cooling teas, like Hibiscus Cooler or our Summer Chill down Tea.

About the author: Heather works and runs Metta Wellness is Shrewsbury, MA. This is a creation of Ayurveda, Massage and Wellness. Find out more at www.mettaspa.net

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

The joy of creating my own oils, teas, and salves with wild harvesting.

Wild Harvesting Roses for Heart Glycerin

I have worked in massage therapy and Ayurveda for the last nine years and through this time have learned, and continue to learn the art of creating. With massage you are always learning and working and finding new(sometimes old) ways to work with and help with issues of the body. With Ayurveda, we are looking at the body,mind spirit connection and finding ways that you can build balance in your everyday life. With balance we create harmony and in harmony we are in a healthy space.

While working at the Maharishi Ayurveda Health Center in Lancaster,MA I learned to make oils for dosha balance. When learning the oil making, we worked with large amounts of herbs, most would come in a dry or powdered form, and we would make the oils from their.Over time I learned how to blend herbs for our clients for many different healing treatments, such as oils that would be poured onto the low back while creating a damn for the oils to sit in(this is a kati basti) all individuality made for each client. The oil for one client would be different form another, depending on what the issues where in the body, mind connection.

So this got me thinking, and when I started to work for myself, it all made sense, no one body is the same, so why would their oils be the same. So I did what I do, and went back to school, I went into an Herbal program. With massage, Thai yoga, meditation and Ayurveda, I take and blend and create the body-work treatment that is individual to each client, so now we have the herbs and oils. I have spent the last year wild harvesting my herbs and creating oils from them, then blending them for my clients. I have found that blending teas, such as a relaxing stress free tea after and massage with lavender & chamomile oil allows the client to go further with their healing, or just relaxing.

Last week I was able to spend the time away at my grandparents home, and they have this incredible rose bush, blooming and the smell so sweet, it took me to a place when I was a kid, running around the yard with my cousins, just being. That smell, the color of the rose, if feels safe, loving cooling yet warm. So I gathered some of the roses, and made a rose glycerin, and the next time I feel sad, or want to feel the love of my grandmother, I can take a little drop, and you are their again.This is the beauty of the herbs, and why I have introduced them to my friends, yes my clients. So weather I am harvesting elder flower, or yarrow, I respect what I have and am learning, and the space I am in, I create what I need for the time, nothing more, and always leave in respect of what we are given.

I have always been drawn to alternative ways to heal, to create balance, this is how I have been drawn to the work I do.

About the author: Heather works at Metta Wellness in Shrewsbury, MA., www.mettaspa.net, with Ayurveda and wellness, creating body-work, teas, oils and slaves for her clients.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Yes, the beauty of Thai yoga massage, one of my favorite modalities to practice and work with.

When I was finishing up school for Massage Therapy in 2005, one of our last classes was to help introduce us to all the different types of massage that where out their. So we spent time with hot stone massage, body scrubs, and then we got a taste of a few more modalties that we could continue in learning after we finished schooling. Yes, one of them was Thai massage, or Thai Yoga Massage(also know as Lazy Mans yoga), I was hooked.I took a table Thai class right away, enjoyed it, but felt that their was more to it, so I went on the search. I found a teacher that taught here in the states and traveled back to Thailand every year to continue with her practice. I started from their, and at the same time did my Ayurveda training,and found Lotus Palm, school for Thai Ayurveda Training. Now I could take the Thai massage and Ayurveda along with my background in Swedish Massage and truly enjoy creating bodywork that is individualized..

Thai Yoga Massage is a powerful style, using the body in a deep flow of stretching, while the mind settles into a meditation. When receiving a Thai Yoga Massage, you come dressed comfortably in yoga style clothing, this body treatment is done on a traditional Thai floor mat.Your Thai practitioner will do a health history, and then discuss what your goals are for your Thai treatment.Your Thai massage can go from very gentle rocking and stretching to very deep palming of the meridians. Thai yoga massage takes into account where you are today, and approaches the massage in this way, as you are guided through the yoga postures while being stretched and working the body in a very gentle yet deep way. This is the beauty of Thai Yoga Massage.

The beauty of Thai Yoga Massage for me is very powerful, to move with the body as it flows from one movement to another, stretching deeply throughout the body and connecting in a meditative space.

If you have never tried a Thai Yoga massage and you love yoga, or you feel like your body just needs a good stretch, this is the one for you.

Friday, April 18, 2014

You hear this from me a lot, take time for yourself. So have you? With our schedules so busy, and the feeling of having to get everything done, its a wonder we forget to stop and take time for ourselves.

I shared some easy recipes with you this week and some ideas of dry brushing as I have focused on self, and getting ready for spring, and spring allergies. At Metta Spa, Ayurveda is the controlling factor of my space, how we eat, sleep, exercise, and so on, so my goal is to share with you every week easy tips to add into your daily life to find balance.

So as we go off for this long weekend, many of you will have Good Friday off along with Easter Monday, so I am sharing a real easy wake your skin up recipe. We found this one to work great is you make it the night before and use it in the morning.

Add everything together and mix, you can add essential oils to this also, like lemon,wild orange grapefruit all good for uplifting.
Gently exfoliate with the coffee scrub, add more oil if needed. Play around with the essential oils, enjoy the different smells and feelings that they can bring.
Pick the base oil that is right for you , if you need cooling go with coconut, relaxing or balanced go with sesame, if your skin is dry try the almond oil.

You can't go wrong when you take the time for yourself..So weather it's coming in for an Ayurvedic treatment, creating something good to eat in the kitchen or just going for a walk, take time for yourself.
.find us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Mettaspa

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

So I found this recipe, and as many of you know I deal with food allergies, so I am always looking for great food ideas - since stopping at the grocery store and just picking up any snack, would not be the ideal way for me to go.

So I search, and try new recipes all the time, and then tweak them to work for me, the kids and my partner.

We found a great chia recipe in one of my Ayurveda cookbooks a few months ago, and when someone shared this pumpkin one, we tried, made a few adjustments(more like added into), and have fallen in love with the ease of this late morning-mid afternoon snack.

We always start by making the recipe the way it calls, then add or take away what we don't need, write it down on our recipe for next time and we are good. This one, we really had no need for changing, I did add a little more milk the second time, and since then have made it with cacao powder and banana(as an addition too) , and this weekend we are trying it with cranberries and almonds.

Food should be fun, and trying new things, adding new things, sometimes it works out great, and other times not as well, so write notes, try new things, and always enjoy..

Friday, April 11, 2014

April is a great time of the year, weather is changing, flowers are starting to pop up, and that means allergies.So this question has come up several times in the last few weeks about Oil-Pulling, perfect timing, because it goes along with the seasons and helps in so many ways including allergies.So what does Ayurveda thinks of it , how it works, and where to start, lets tackle oil pulling today.

First "What is oil-pulling?

A little background on oil-pulling:Ayurveda is a time tested, 5,000 year old traditional based; all natural healing. With Ayurveda comes many methods of keeping the body in balance through meditation, yoga, massage, daily routine and yes one is oil-pulling. Ayurveda has many modalities all to achieve health, working to maintain a healthy balanced body, mind and spirit.

So what is oil-pulling? Simply put, part of the Ayurveda morning ritual to wake up and flush toxins and bacteria out of the body.Oil-pulling has a powerful detoxifying effect,you are pulling out the bacteria in the mouth with oil.

Benefits:

Brightens and whitens teeth

healthy gums - helping with bad breath

increasing energy

decreasing headaches

better sleep

clearing sinuses and mucus

alleviating allergies

helps clear skin

How To:

Oil-pulling is a great way to start your morning off feeling clean and refreshed, the first few days may seem difficult or uncomfortable, just stick with it, at the end of the week you will feel the difference. Oil-Pulling is a simple yet powerful way to effect your everyday just by starting your morning off it. So if you add if to your morning for whiter teeth or clear your sinuses to help with allergies, stick with it for at least one month, give it a chance to work for you.

Swish the oil around in your moth - 15-20mins, make sure you are relaxing the mouth. You may find this part tough at the beginning but stick with it.

After 2mins, spit the oil out, in the trash, compost or outside( its great if you get out and take a walk while oil-pulling).

Swish another glass of water around in your mouth, and spit out.

After oil-pulling you should brush our teeth and do a tongue scraping (Promo code mettaspa10 when ordering). Tongue scraping removes the oils and bacteria left behind while waking up the digestive fires.

Ayurveda has many way to work with the body, and each person to create a balanced lifestyle. Taking a few ideas from Ayurveda and adding them to your daily routine will help you to find your own balance. Metta Spa is a great place to start on your journey or find tips or ideas to create a balanced mind body and spirit.

Friday, April 4, 2014

The Ayurveda Shirodhara is an incredible treatment that has lots of fantastic benefits for the mind and body. The Shirodhara is done by pouring warm oil onto the third eye, this awakens the bodies intuitive knowledge to self heal. This treatment relives stress, anxiety,depression and insomnia by naturally raising the serotonin levels in the brain. While this treatment is ideal, and balances the three dosha, it is known for its vata balancing quality. Over time this treatment helps to improve your sleep patterns and is known to relieve and help reduce migraines. The warm oil can also work to increase mental concentration along with focus. The Shirodhara helps with improved memory and sensitivity to all the senses.

The Shirodhara will also balance your life energy and stimulate your third eye(located in the center of the forehead above the brows,known as self-reflection).The Shirodhara can do many incredible things for the mind body and spirit connection

At Metta Spa we offer the Shirodhara along with other Ayurvedic treatments to help you on your journey to a balanced. Through the month of April Metta Spa is offering a special on the Shirodhara along with the Abhyanga Shirodhara, so if you have never had the chance to have this treatment, now is the time.

Friday, March 21, 2014

I love when a client comes into my space for the first time. I start off, like most massage therapist, with a simple health form, but after that nothing is the same from that point on. That health form is my jumping off point, a warm up, for understanding the goal of each client that comes in the door.

A massage with me at Metta Spa(Heather Small) will not only settle the body, relax the muscles, but get you started on your road to a healthier balanced mind body and spirit. One way that I will do that is to create your own personalized oils, allowing you to move forward each time you come in for your massage. Think about it for a moment, we all have some stresses in our lives, work, friends, our partners, kids ,taking care of our homes, each day presents us with a different challenge.The healthier the mind, body spirit connection is, the better off we are to handle the stresses that come our way. Some days are great, and others you cant wait to crawl into bed. So you come in for a massage, to relax those stressed muscles, and we talk a little about what brought you in, and what you would like to get from your massage session today. Maybe you have a lot of work to get done this week, or your mother-in-law is coming to visit, life is a constant change. How do you handle your daily stresses, good or bad?

This is where Metta Spa is different. My background starts many years ago,when I was a stay at home mom, when massage became a tool to help my kids, to relax them before bed or massage their bellies for digestion, the simple touch was so calming. So as my kids got older, I went off to school for massage therapy, this introduced me to many different groups of clients that need massage for many different ailments, I was quickly drawn to working with cancer clients. After completing my massage training I went on to continue my work with cancer clients and training in Boston with Dana Farbor, and Why Me in Worcester,MA. I have always been drawn to the side of holistic healing, which has brought me to the Ayuredic work that now incubuses the work I do. My training has moved forward with the goal of full body healing from massage, Ayurveda, Thai massage, meditation and herbal training.Together this allows me to create your massage session with personalized oils that will bring in balance of the mind, body and spirit.

Massage is a great place to start, from their you can add personalized oils, learn more about meditation, yoga, foods for your body type, along with other ways to help relax and settle the mind and body.

In a medium bowl, soak pumpkin seeds in water with salt overnight, up to 7hrs. Soaking of the pumpkin seeds aids in the ease of their digestion, making their nutrients more available to us.

Strain pumpkin seeds and lay them out on paper towels( this will absorb the extra water).

Preheat oven *170. In medium bowl mix spices well, add pumpkin seeds and toss to coat. Spread evenly on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake 6 hours, till dry and crisp( I turn oven off and leave mine in for another 2 hours or overnight, they get nice and crispy)

I like to make this in large batches for snacks(due to the amount of time it takes and store in large glass mason jars for up to two weeks( if they don't eat it all before then!)

Note: this process can be done in a dehydrator

* To reduce pitta: omit cayenne and garam masala.

Chai Tea for Kapha:

1 piece of ginger, peeled

2 cups milk, soy or almond

1 Tbsp fresh brewed Black tea

1 Tbsp raw sugar

Place all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to just boil, strain and serve immediately.

*To reduce Vata, Pitta: use maple syrup in place of sugar.

I add crushed cardamon pods and whole cloves to my Chai. Explore with the Kapha spices, see which ones work best for you.

Kapha Favored Herbs:

Kahpa herbs help wake the digestive fires and dry out the congestion and mucous in our membranes after a long winter. It feel good to wake up the system and clear out the congestion we have built up over the winter months.

Ginger: ginger is believed to strengthen and heal the digestive and respiratory system, as well as fight off colds and flu. Ginger removes congestion, soothes sore throats. and relieves body aches.

Cardamon:In Ayurveda medicine, cardamon is said to stimulate the mind and give clarity. Cardamon reduces the air and water elements( the vata and kapha elements), increases appetite(in a good way), and soothes the mucous membrane.

Cloves: Cloves are said to invigorate, restore, and help generate heat in the body, which is especially useful during the cold and flu season.

Nutmeg: Nutmeg adds a rich flavor and helps moisten the airways ad reduce the drying of the mucous membranes and throat, often associated with smoking.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Love is a very powerful thing. We have to start with ourselves, the power we have and the power we can create?

With all the work I do, no matter the issue it always come back to issues in the self. When we love ourselves this is a strength in our self . We can then easily handle areas of stress and you are then able to move forward with greater self.

Stop and think for a moment. All of us, at different times in our life have issues, work, family, kids, finances, friends, but the difference is how we handle these things. These issues will either give us the strength to move forward or hold us back from the person we can become. How we feel about ourselves has so much to do with how we react to our environment and how we impact the people around us.

We all come into our world with a different self, a different way of looking at the world, and a different way to react to things. Over time our experiences will encourage, shift, or force us to become the person we are. So how will you allow you life experiences to shape you? This is where Self love is strength.

Learning to accept yourself, your faults, and your strengths gives you a good base to love yourself. We all make our mistakes and we all have elements of power and strength in ourselves. Draw from your mistakes, learn from them, and forgive yourself . Over time you will gain strength from yourself, and develop a stronger self love.

Everyday take a moment to thank yourself, to love yourself. Remember you are love and you are loved. Self love is strength, and strength will bring you a balance of self.